Arthur Murray History
Early Life
Early 1900s
Young Arthur Murray circa 1905
Arthur Murray started teaching dance in 1912 at the Grand Palace in NYC.
1915 Dancing at the Castle House
At Castle House, Arthur learned the famous Castle Walk and Tango.
Social Dancing
Pioneer
Below: 1925-1929
A pioneer of social dancing, Arthur’s early success was due in part to his involvement in the American social dance scene.
Ballroom Dancing by Arthur Murray
Beyond radio and personal dance lessons, Arthur Murray wrote several books and brochures to promote the social aspects of dance.
Stepping Forward
1914-1920s
Summer, 1914
The Baroness De Kuttleston, whom Mr. Murray had met at Castle House, asked if he would be her teaching partner.
1919
By 1919, Arthur Murray was teaching dance in his spare time.
He soon had over a thousand children of different age groups enrolled in his classes.
The Murray dance classes soon attracted many adults.
March 27, 1920
He arranged to have music transmitted to a group of his students, which was the world’s first radio broadcast of live dance music.
Footprints
The famous footprints that became an Arthur Murray trademark.
1919
Arthur with movie star Anita Stewart performing the “Hesitation Waltz.”
A Lifetime
Kathryn & Arthur
Early 1920s
Kathryn and Arthur met in a radio station in New Jersey during one of his broadcast dance lessons where she was an audience member.
April 24, 1925
Arthur and Kathryn were married on April 24, 1925, and opened a dance school together.
Arthur’s family
Family Portrait: The Murrays and Mrs. Lenore Kohnfelder, Kathryn’s mother.
1930s
Stepping Forward
1930s Revolution
During the 1930s, the studio introduced such dances to the public as the Lambeth Walk and the Big Apple.
1930s Revolution
It was the Big Apple that turned Mr. Murray’s one studio into the largest chain of dance studios in the world today.
1937
Arthur with movie star Jan Wyman performing the Lambeth Walk.
Creating an Empire
Early 1940s
1938
In 1938, the first official opening of a franchised school occurred.
By 1946
When Arthur incorporated, there were 72 franchised studios grossing nearly twenty million dollars a year.
Original Studio
The original studio in Miami Beach, Florida.
1950-1962
The Arthur Murray Party
July of 1950
Arthur bought five fifteen-minute television spots on CBS and persuaded Kathryn to teach on TV.
Dancing onto TV
The Arthur Murray Party was a TV show that ran from 1950-1962, hosted by Arthur and Kathryn Murray.
Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx with Kathryn at the Arthur Murray Party.
Bob Hope
Poster for “A Toast to Bob Hope” on the Arthur Murray Party.
Taking a Bow
1964
1964
Two years after the TV show ended, Arthur and Kathryn retired and sold the company to a group of business associates and a new era began.
Passing of a star
Arthur passed away on March 3rd, 1991.
Passing of the Baton
1960s-1970s
Renewed in 1964
A renewed Arthur Murray system took shape in 1964 when a group of Arthur Murray associates and franchisees took the helm.
Under the leadership of Philip S. Masters, George B. Theiss and Samuel A. Costello, the company began to re-invent itself.
New leadership
Chairman Phil Masters with Jerry Lewis at the MDA Telethon.
Disco
The advent of disco helped make dance contests and Arthur Murray Studios popular all over again.
Arthur Murray International
Dancing Overseas
1970s-Present
Over the past 20 years, Arthur Murray has become a truly global enterprise.
Present Day
HAPPY 100 YEARS!
2012: 100 years of dance
As we celebrate 100 years of teaching the world to dance, today there are over 260 Arthur Murray Dance Studios in 21 countries across the globe.
Our longevity is a result of excellent customer service, unparalleled social dance instruction techniques and experienced corporate management that carries on the tradition of excellence started by Arthur himself in 1912.